China Argentine

China's vice minister of the General Administration of Customs (GAC) Wang Lingjun met with Juan José Bahillo, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina, vowing to increase bilateral trade of agricultural products, the GAC said on Tuesday. 

During the meeting, Wang and Bahillo exchanged views on Argentinian agricultural products imports, in addition to their bilateral cooperation linked to customs quarantine and checks. The two signed cooperation document after the meeting. 

Wang said that bilateral cooperation in customs check has been steadily upgraded and is making progress, which contributes to the positive development of China-Argentine trade of agricultural products and food, as well as the bilateral cooperation in co-building the Belt and Road Initiative.

Bahillo said that China is Argentina's important trade partner, and is willing to deepen engagement and cooperation between the two countries, as well as diversifying product categories to solidify bilateral friendship. 

On June 2 this year, China's vice minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ma Youxiang met with Bahillo in Beijing. 

Ma noted that China-Argentina agricultural cooperation has seen progress, and the cooperation in agricultural investment has untapped development potential. Bahillo spoke highly of China-Argentina agricultural relations and agreed with Ma on strengthening bilateral agricultural cooperation.

GAC's latet data showed that China-Argentine trade volume in the first eight months of 2023 hit $12.73 billion, down by 5.7 percent year-on-year.

The Argentine Ambassador to China Gustavo Sabino Vaca Narvaja said on October 10, 2023 during an interview with China News Agency that China is Argentina's second largest trade partner and its largest purchaser of agricultural products. 

"With the fast growth in China-Argentine trade and investment, especially in mineral sector cooperation, China is estimated to become Argentine's largest trade partner in the next one to two years," said the ambassador. 

Global Times